U.Va. falls 27-26 at Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Virginia kept it close, but the Cavaliers tasted defeat all the same. Settling for field goals in the first half and a lengthy attempt in the final seconds, the Cavaliers fell 27-26 at Maryland on Saturday in the final ACC meeting between the longtime rivals.

Punter-turned-kicker Alec Vozenilek missed a 42-yard field-goal try with 10 seconds remaining after making his first four attempts. Virginia’s fate depended on the try after allowing the go-ahead touchdown with 5:14 left, shortly after the Terrapins converted a 47-yard lob pass on third-and-22.

Coming off a 48-27 home loss to Ball State, the Cavaliers (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) gained 505 yards of total offense, held possession for 38 minutes and scored the opening 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Virginia went without a turnover while Maryland (5-1, 1-1) committed three in the 57th conference matchup between the border schools. Despite the positives, the history books will show a loss, Virginia’s third straight this season.

“A lot of things that went on we improved upon,” said Virginia coach Mike London, who fell to 1-4 versus Maryland. “That’s the aim, that’s the goal, but obviously we have to do better.”

Arriving with a three-game winning streak at Byrd Stadium, the Cavaliers scored on each of their six red-zone opportunities. Four times, the scores were field goals from Vozenilek, who made his second appearance as the place-kicker, replacing the injured Ian Frye.

Three field goals came in the first half, including the final one from 27 yards that gave Virginia a 16-14 lead entering halftime. The Cavaliers regained the lead on Kevin Parks’ 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

The knockout opportunity came later in the quarter, but the offense didn’t deliver. Virginia recovered Maryland’s second muffed punt of the game on the Terps’ 17-yard line, leading to Vozenilek’s 26-yarder for a 26-20 lead with 7:11 remaining.

“Just knowing we didn’t capitalize on the opportunities that we had, that’s the toughest part for me,” said quarterback David Watford, who completed 27 of 44 passes for 263 yards and one touchdown.

Maryland had its own face-plant last week, a 63-0 drubbing at Florida State. The loss knocked the Terps out of the top 25 and starting quarterback C.J. Brown (concussion) out of the lineup.

Making his first start of the season, Caleb Rowe threw a long pass in the fourth quarter that found Deon Long between two defenders for a 47-yard reception to Virginia’s 13-yard line.

“You got to go up and make that play, it’s a whole different story,” London said of Long’s catch, one of several plays of 20 or more yards Virginia allowed.

Maryland, now 44-32-2 in the series, regained the lead two plays later on tight end Dave Stinebaugh’s 12-yard diving catch. Rowe completed 18 of 34 passes for 332 yards, including a 77-yard screen to Brandon Ross that set up Maryland’s first touchdown.

Watford, a Hampton High graduate, completed five passes on Virginia’s final drive, moving the Cavaliers from their 17 to Maryland’s 27 with just more than a minute left. He didn’t throw another pass as Virginia gained 3 yards on three carries, setting up Vozenilek on the right hash mark.

The junior, who said his range extends 50 yards out, made his first six kicks on the season. His seventh went wide right.

“You dream about stuff like that as a kid,” Vozenilek said. “It was a great opportunity. The team believed in me, I believed in myself. Just pushed it right.”

An improvising Watford found Jake McGee on third down for a 4-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. McGee caught eight passes for 114 yards, but was limited on the final drive with a leg injury.

Virginia’s defense played the second half without star tackle Brent Urban, who limped off the field with a lower-leg injury.

The Cavaliers have several layers of pain to deal with entering next week’s home game against Duke.

“It’s a hurt locker room in there,” London said. “We get that close and have that opportunity and it goes against us.”